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Fresno State's student-run newspaper

The Collegian

Fresno State's student-run newspaper

The Collegian

ASI overturning decision unseats presumptive senators

With the overturning of seven candidates̢۪ previous disqualifications, there are now six new members of the Associated Students Inc. (ASI) senate.

Pedro Ramirez, Amy Wilson, Luis Sanchez and Alexandro Garcia, who all belonged to the P.E.D.R.O. slate, are now senator̢۪s at-large as a result of Dr. Paul Oliaro, vice president of student affairs, choice to reverse their initial disqualification.

The four will replace Maddie Shannon, Eduardo Rodriguez, Julianne Phillips and Peter Casacca who were all announced on April 23 to have won senate at-large positions as a result of the disqualification.

Election numbers show that Shannon, Rodriguez, Phillips and Casacca did not receive enough votes in the election to win positions.

Julianne Phillips said she was excited to have won the position and felt that the Student Court̢۪s decision to disqualify all members of P.E.D.R.O. was justified.

“I felt the PEDRO candidates had made very poor decisions in their sleazy campaign,â€Â Phillips said.

“It was very clear to me that they gave no regard whatsoever to the bylaws and chose to ignore the rules simply because they did not like them.â€Â

Phillips and others believe that the Student Courts decision to initially disqualify all 10 members of P.E.D.R.O. should have been upheld because she feels all members were part of each of the violations and that is the consequence of being on a slate.

However, Oliaro felt differently and said that despite the fact that all 10 people ran together he viewed them individually when it came to overturning the decision.

Garcia said his initial reaction to the disqualification was shock.

He said the situation became hectic very quickly, but now he is thankful for Oliaro̢۪s decision and concentrated on his future.

“My plans now, are to hopefully serve as the new senator of Legislative Affairs,â€Â Garcia said.

“I have lobbied with other students before in the Capital to fight against cuts to the CSU system and would love to continue working with students and CSSA to keep higher education affordable.â€Â

Ramirez said he felt a sense of shock just like Garcia when he first heard of the disqualification.

But now he says he is simply happy the university served justice and wants to make it clear that a sense of peace is in ASI.

“One thing must be made clear and mentioned, we are not out to get revenge nor are we out to be a thorn and disrupt the university,â€Â Ramirez said.

“We want to be part of the group and work with everyone who was elected, no matter how bitter the election was. We need to unify for the rights and needs of the students.â€Â

In addition to the four member of P.E.D.R.O. who are now senators at-large, two others had their disqualifications overturned and are now senators of colleges.

Jonathon Thompson, who ran unopposed, is now the senator for the college of science and mathematics while Jamie San Andres, who was also reinstated, will fill the position of senator of social sciences.

Jessica Sweeten the new ASI president said she is optimistic about the future with the new senate.

“Dr. Oliaro made the decision he felt thought was right under the circumstances,â€Â Sweeten said.

“We are going to begin building a relationship with the new senators and hopefully have a successful year.â€Â

View Comments (12)
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Comments (12)

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  • J

    Jared Harper is an toolMay 17, 2009 at 11:17 am

    that’s maybe a spin on immigration, but how is that ‘racist’—-you used the word ‘racist’ now justify that—-i see the immigration humor, but your doing the whole ‘holier than thou’ left winger thing by just throwing around the accusations of racism……..dummy

    Reply
  • J

    Jared Harper is an toolMay 17, 2009 at 6:17 pm

    that’s maybe a spin on immigration, but how is that ‘racist’—-you used the word ‘racist’ now justify that—-i see the immigration humor, but your doing the whole ‘holier than thou’ left winger thing by just throwing around the accusations of racism……..dummy

    Reply
  • D

    dwMay 17, 2009 at 7:14 am

    The latest ASI soap opera!

    Who gives a rat’s ass about this? Virtually no one.

    Wonder why ASI is irrelevanr? This is why.

    Reply
  • D

    dwMay 17, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    The latest ASI soap opera!

    Who gives a rat’s ass about this? Virtually no one.

    Wonder why ASI is irrelevanr? This is why.

    Reply
  • J

    Jared HarperMay 17, 2009 at 2:02 am

    come on how does race play a part? either your not reading the posts or oyur that dumb……read what the personposted about PEDRo needed to show papers or be deported….whoever posted that is playing a racial bias towards students.

    dummy

    Reply
  • J

    Jared HarperMay 17, 2009 at 9:02 am

    come on how does race play a part? either your not reading the posts or oyur that dumb……read what the personposted about PEDRo needed to show papers or be deported….whoever posted that is playing a racial bias towards students.

    dummy

    Reply
  • J

    Jared's wrong-------09 gradMay 17, 2009 at 12:29 am

    jared, how does race play into the previous commenter’s post? the ‘r’ word is thrown around way too much as evidenced by your comment. if the students cheated or campaigned too close to polling stations, then another senatoral poll seems like a valid solution. Why should students who campaigned the right way lose their seat at the benefit of those who bended the regulations they signed to abide by……

    Reply
  • J

    Jared's wrong-------09 gradMay 17, 2009 at 7:29 am

    jared, how does race play into the previous commenter’s post? the ‘r’ word is thrown around way too much as evidenced by your comment. if the students cheated or campaigned too close to polling stations, then another senatoral poll seems like a valid solution. Why should students who campaigned the right way lose their seat at the benefit of those who bended the regulations they signed to abide by……

    Reply
  • J

    Jared HarperMay 16, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Wow looks like we got a racist, prejudicial biased commenter. If you feel so strongly about such a group of students why do you not do something about it? The PEDRo party really took action those who oppose them seem to talk alot of trash but take no action when it comes to what they believe. Why hasnt the opposing team gone through the process to argue back? if not then stop posting racial hate.

    Reply
  • J

    Jared HarperMay 16, 2009 at 6:16 pm

    Wow looks like we got a racist, prejudicial biased commenter. If you feel so strongly about such a group of students why do you not do something about it? The PEDRo party really took action those who oppose them seem to talk alot of trash but take no action when it comes to what they believe. Why hasnt the opposing team gone through the process to argue back? if not then stop posting racial hate.

    Reply
  • L

    Long Dong SilverMay 15, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    P.E.D.R.O. needs to present its papers or be deported——-these students did break the rules and run-off elections should be held in the interest of fairness.

    Reply
  • L

    Long Dong SilverMay 16, 2009 at 3:17 am

    P.E.D.R.O. needs to present its papers or be deported——-these students did break the rules and run-off elections should be held in the interest of fairness.

    Reply